Saturday, April 30, 2011

I totally forgot I had these cards to share with you, I was asked to create a series of cards using the Pantone colour for 2011, Honeysuckle, for Creative Card Magazine. It was the perfect colour for me to use as I do love pink and there were so many different occasions that it could be used for.
To create this one I experimented with some paper doileys, I inked the edges with distress inks, cut them in half and then pleated them around the inside of cut out circle. I stuck a piece of hambly overlay onto the inside of the card to cover the hole.

Well I am now back at work which felt really strange for the first few days, our unit has temporarily been rehomed since I have been off so I didn't have a clue where anything was and felt very much like a new girl! It didn't take long to get back to normal though lol. I am still only doing paper work but hopefully at the end of this week I will be allowed to do some clinical work.....at last!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Have you ever had a scrapping disaster? I have had a couple in my time but last nights was the most annoying! I had nearly finished this page and I thought it would be a good idea to add a home grown swirl along the bottom of the photo using perfect pearls. I had kept the waste from a Zva Creative swirl and used it as a template to pierce the shape of the swirl onto the page...so far so good. Next I used my perfect pearls to cover up the holes and create my swirl....not so good. I hated how it looked and you really couldn't make out the proper shape of the swirl so I wiped it off which made it even worse! I contemplated ending it all (the layout that is) but thought there must be some way I could cover up the smudged pearls and pierced holes. So out came the butterfly punch and some Zva pearls. As long as you don't look too closely it is sort of alright!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

I seem to have created lots of pages of Rebecca lately, Emily rarely comes out with us now (it isn't cool at very nearly 16) so my supply of up to date photos is quite small. So I have resorted to scrapping a photo that I have used before, I know a lot of people would never scrap the same photo twice but for me scrapping is not only about preserving memories it is also about creating a piece of art work and if using a photo more than once means that I am happy with what I am creating then I am fine with that.
I have used the Websters Pages Ladies and Gents range again for this layout, I really loved the clocks and they made a great starting point for the page.

I have stuck all the stickers onto scraps of paper before adding them to my page so that I could easily move them around and make sure I got them in the right place. It also makes it a lot easier to raise them up using either pin flair gel or foam pads.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I have absolutely fallen in love with the new Websters Pages ranges, you know me and hand cutting, well these papers have so many details that can be cut out they are right up my street! I have used the Ladies and Gents range to create this page of Rebecca along with some Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden rub ons and a butterfly cut from some old Prima paper.
I did invest in a pair of scalloped scissors and really love the effect of those scalloped borders and it now means that I am going to have a use for the pile of cardstock that has remained untouched in my craft room for ages!

Friday, April 15, 2011

It was Ally Pally time again last weekend and my darling husband agreed to drive Mum and I up, I wouldn't have the confidence to drive around London, compared to sleepy Dorset the traffic is just crazy!! We had to get up at silly o'clock to go and collect Mum at 6am, we wanted to get there for when the doors opened. I have always gone on Sunday before and I was amazed at how much busier it was on a Saturday.
Last year I was quite disappointed with the products that were on offer but this year I could have spent, spent and spent! Thankfully Justin hasn't asked me how much I did end up spending and to be honest I haven't added it up (probably a good job). I did find that prices varied a lot around the room, distress inks ranged from £4.89 to £3.99 which is a major difference, also around the page punches Mum bought the swirling lace for £25 (it was the last one the shop had so I said she could have it and I would borrow it) then I found one at a different store for £19.99!
Anyway got some gorgeous stash, I got most of what I had wanted to get except for pearl swirls (my stock is seriously low) and adhesive pearls for Rebecca. Mum also spent well and came away with everything she had on her list. Roll on next April!
I met my friend Claire, we were both stood at the Scrap Revolution til and suddenly realised who each other was so that was lovely. She is a lovely lady who I met at the Sarah's Cards retreat last year and again in March. I also met another lovely lady who introduced herself to me and said she followed my blog and read my articles in SBM which made my day.

On a non scrapping note I am finally going back to work on Tuesday, I can't believe my last working day was 31st December! I have seen occi health and am allowed back but only doing ward admin for 4-6 weeks so that isn't so good but at least I am going back so can't complain. I had to have a steroid injection in my shoulder joint a few weeks ago which has helped with the pain, just got to try and get more movement in it now! The joys of being nearly 40 lol.
TFL
xx

Friday, April 8, 2011

Over on the Sarah's Cards blog we set a monthly sketch challenge and take it in turns to design the sketch, this month it was my turn. I love using circles on my scrapbook pages so I thought it might be nice to create a sketch which incorporated them, the finished sketch ended up with lots!!

I created this page using some gorgeous Websters Pages Wonderfall papers. When I buy papers like this I always buy two sheets of each design, this might seem a bit extravagant but if you want to hand cut elements of the design and add lots of layers you need the extra page to enable you to layer the elements.

To create the scalloped edge around the circle I used the strip from the image stickers. I stuck it onto some scrap paper and cut it out, after inking the edges I cut it into small pieces (3 scallops on each section) and then added it around the circle.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

In my last post I told you about some gorgeous papers that I had just ordered from Sarah's Cards, I couldn't wait to start playing with them and have just finished this layout using them. I love creating pages where I can cut elements from the paper and these butterfly garden papers are just perfect for that.
There are some amazing scrappers out there and one whom I find so inspiring is Gabrielle, I have followed her blog for a while now and love how she frames some of her papers with a very narrow scalloped edge so I had a go at hand cutting some cardstock for this page. I am really pleased with how it looks but think I need to invest in some scalloped scissors!

I used some of the die cuts on this page, they are surrounded by a white border which seemed too stark so I used distress ink on them to soften them.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

There are some paper ranges that you just fall in love with and Emma's Shoppe by Crate is one of those! When I took the photos of Rebecca at Moreton a few weeks ago, before we left home I sadly made sure that what she was wearing would go with the papers! They are very much her style (even she loves this range and has already asked for all the leftovers!) so I really wanted to use them to scrap photos of her.
We have always told both girls that they can be whatever they want to be as long as they are prepared to work hard to achieve their goal. For a long time Rebecca wanted to become a SCBU nurse but over the last 6 months this has developed into a real passion to become a doctor. I wanted to document her ambition but in her own words so I got Rebecca to add the journaling to this page.

Sorry the photos are a bit dark, the sun isn't cooperating today!
I had a lovely delivery today from Sarah, have you seen the absolutely gorgeous Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden range? It is stunning and I can't wait to get creating with it!!

I love love love this Butterfly Garden ephemera pack, they are so usable.

I design for

About Me

Hello fellow scrappers welcome to my little blog! My name is Rachael and I am a 41 year old staff nurse, just embarking on full time employment for the first time since having my two gorgeous girls.
My girls are definitely the focus of the majority of my pages and thank fully don't mind too much being in front of the lens. I am married to the most wonderful man, Justin, who is very supportive of my addiction to paper, glue and my camera!
I have been scrapping for nearly six years now, I'm not sure I have a definite style, although I know others disagree, but I do love trying to add depth and definition to my pages by using elements of the papers.
I have been extremely fortunate to have been published in Scrapbook Magazine, Scrapbook Inspirations, Papercraft Essentials ,Creative Cardmaking and I am currently on the design team for Scrap365.
I have worked for a few kit companies over the last few years which has been such a privilege. Currently I am part of the most amazing design team at My Creative Scrapbook.
This blog is where I love to share my creations with other paper obsessed scrappers who understand my addiction!